Take out a good travel insurance policy that covers emergency repatriation and medical costs.

Stay informed about real-time safety and security risks by keeping a close eye on news reports from the State of Hawaii: http://dod.hawaii.gov/hiema/category/news-release/

For more information about volcanic eruptions, see https://www.ready.gov/volcanoes

Advice from the Hawaii Department of Health:

“The best way to protect yourself and your family from the extremely dangerous volcanic gases is to leave the immediate area of the volcano defined by the police and fire department. This is especially important if you or a family member has asthma or other respiratory disease or illness.”

Yellow fever is an acute viral disease that is spread to humans via infected mosquitos. It is endemic in tropical areas of Africa and Latin America.

Symptoms of yellow fever usually appear 3 to 6 days after the bite of an infected mosquito. In the initial phase, they include fever, muscle pain, headache, shivers, loss of appetite, and nausea or vomiting. For most patients, these symptoms disappear after 3 to 4 days. However, 15% of patients enter a second, more toxic phase, when high fever returns, and several body systems are affected, including the kidneys.

There is no cure for yellow fever and treatment is based on symptom management.

Travelling to Brazil?

See a health professional at least four to six weeks before you travel, to find out about yellow fever and other recommended vaccinations for the area(s) that you plan to visit.

Bear in mind that Rio de Janeiro state authorities recommend that all visitors to the state, including to the island of Ilha Grande, are vaccinated against yellow fever.

You can find out more about vaccination requirements for Brazil from the National Travel Health Network and Centre: https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/34/brazil#Vaccine_recommendations

Once in Brazil, avoid mosquito bites both day and night by using a DEET-based insect repellent, covering up exposed areas with clothes and screening windows.

If you’re travelling (or have travelled) to an area in which yellow fever is a risk, seek immediate medical advice if you have symptoms of the disease.

Advice from the World Health Organisation

Vaccination is the single most important measure for preventing yellow fever.

The vaccine has been used for many decades and is safe and affordable, providing effective immunity against yellow fever within 10 days for more than 90% of people vaccinated and within 30 days for 99% of people vaccinated.

A single dose provides lifelong protection.

Travellers with children below 9 months, pregnant or breastfeeding women and people with severe hypersensitivity to egg antigens, and severe immunodeficiency, or over 60 years of age, should consult their health professional for advice.

2,500 athletes will compete, with more than 500,000 tickets sold so far.

South Korea is expected to deploy more than 5,000 security staff, to use metal detectors and x-ray scanners at all major venues and to have a heavy police presence in both PyeongChang and Seoul (the major international transport hub for the event).

Potential terror threats will be monitored, and the event will (reportedly) be protected against cyber threats. Additional security measures, such as no-fly zones and increased maritime patrols, are also likely.

On November 24th, at the end of Friday prayers, a Sufi mosque in Bir-al-Abed was attacked by insurgents using explosives and automatic weapons. This was the first substantial attack in the region to target civilians and a Muslim minority. More than 300 people were killed and over 100 were injured.

The danger is not over yet. According to European weather service, Meteoalarm, parts of Italy and Austria, as well as Croatia, Hungary and Poland, are among several areas still struck by extreme heat. For those travelling to affected countries, CEGA offers this advice:

One Solution, One Platform, One Assistance Service

INtrinsic is an innovative global risk management programme that mitigates risk for insurers and organisations that operate and send employees abroad. By providing a full range of medical and secuirty expertise via a single contact point.

INtrinsic services aim to ensure that companies with employees overseas are able to prepare for the unexpected, to keep staff safe and to respond to an emergency, anywhere in the world, 24/7. A strategic partnership between CEGA and Solace Global, it comprises; pre-travel planning,travel tracking mobile technology, comprehensive staff training, travel risk mitigation measures, usable technology, intelligence, in-country support, 24/7 response and evacuation capabilities and post-event evaluation.

INtrinsic provides the unified support and services that enable you to operate with confidence globally.

It’s set to attract more than 10,500 athletes, 380,000 visitors and sales of over 7.5 million tickets.

With less than 60 days between now and one of the biggest sporting events on the planet, it’s time to start thinking about the health and safety of individuals travelling to see the action - whether that’s you, your employees or your customers.

A disease linked to the Zika virus in the Americas and other countries presents a global public health emergency. Pregnant women in particular are advised not to travel to areas where there are current outbreaks of the virus.

CEGA is directing customers planning a trip to the Americas or other locations to our pre-travel risk management services and is also communicating important advice about the virus from the World Health Organisation and Foreign Office.

In the meantime, our multilingual teams of assistance, medical and travel experts are ready and waiting to help individuals adversely affected by the virus - drawing on our 40 years’ experience and trusted network of partners all over the Americas and beyond.

For the most recent updates we recommend you refer to the following websites:

With baby Nubia's discharge from hospital, there are now no known Ebola cases in Guinea and the country is counting down the days until the all clear can be declared. Liberia and Sierra Leone are both free too. Continued vigilance is necessary but the focus now turns to a whole host of health challenges for citizens and visitors alike.